Anglesey Test Day and Racing 30th / 31st August 2003

So... I decided to take 2 months off mid season to take stock. I was getting no better and the bike was becoming a bit worse for wear. It seemed I weighed to much for it to go fast and for the poor rear spring at the back.

I stripped her down and had the rear shock resprung and had the engine cleaned up and fettled. Took the generator off and rid myself of the oil tank making her premix instead.

The Saturday was a test day. I missed the first session as the gear changer rod was not tight and fell off as I left the (new) awning !!! Next session I went out. I hadn't paid enough heed to the air pressures and it began to rain making the tack nice and greasy.... so I fell off at the hairpin at walking pace.....

My newly revitalised bike had not had a great start.

Slowly my confidence returned and by the first race the next day I had managed 19th and continued to improve slowly over the next 2 races (although I seemed to go backwards being 20th then 21st!).

It was very frustrating as I was riding rings round folk but then making STUPID mistakes like choosing wrong gear etc. Also, my starts were still really bad. Typically I was nearly last off the grid then picked them off one by one from the back. I KNEW I could go much faster and the newer suspension and changes would make this possible with more practice and better starts!!





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